The Rule of Triangle

A Korean saying says, “Words in the day are heard by birds and words at night, by rats.” It points out, I think, that there is no secret in the world. This is a thing that we have to keep in mind in doing evangelism also. I coined this wisdom as the Rule of Triangle. It warns us Christians of how we have to do as we do what we do to others.

In almost all occasions of life in the world, when one does something to the other, there is another who may be watching how the one does to the other. In other words, an interaction between two persons scarcely go without any witness of it. Simply saying, in almost all cases of real situations, at least three people are involved—one is the doer, the other is the receiver, and another is the witness.

Doing good to others is not always easy even when we are determined. It is true especially if the receiver of it is eccentric, dirty, too demanding, unappreciative of the good or even aggressive to the giver. The derogatory expression, the “bottomless basket,” points the receiver who is too demanding. How about a dirty homeless hurt and dying on a cold street? It may not be easy to give helping hands to him, especially if you were heading for an important meeting fully dressed up. How about being a close friend with a come-out gay of same sex with yours, helping him/her with the truth? Not easy, right? Aggressive people? Very common. As we give an advice to depart their sinful lives, many people become aggressive to us.

As doing good to others is not smooth and easy, what would you do? If your “the other” loses his temper, will you too? If he attacks you by anything, will you too? If he is too stubborn, will you just give him up? If he challenges you, will you get mad at him and do according to your flesh? At this point, the rule may whisper to your years, saying, “Somebody is watching you now!” For judgment, God is the “another” who is watching in secret (Matt. 6:2). However, for evangelism, that is, witnessing the gospel of Jesus, it is a person you may want to evangelize.

Keeping the rule in mind is so important for evangelism. The truer is it, the tougher is your “the other”. It is because the “another” will see your heart, intention, and your spirit in which you are doing the thing to “the other”. As he sees that your heart is holy and righteous in dealing with your tough “the other”, he will eventually glorify God, who is working in you. Sometimes your “the other” could be one, who cannot become a Christian, such as an final stage Alzheimer, yet how you do to him is your evangelism to the “another” of the case—your neighbors, the Alzheimer’s doctor or nurses, or even your children. So, assume that you and your “the other” are not alone in any situation. You have “another” for evangelism, if not, God for judgment. You are almost always at one angle of the triangle.

(Picture: http://collider.com/movie-streaming-recommendation-witness/)